A man has appeared in court accused of attacking a woman and her four-year-old daughter.

Thomas Masserick is accused of a string of offences against his ex-partner and the girl, who we cannot name for legal reasons.

Newcastle Magistrates Court heard allegations Masserick had attacked the 25-year-old woman at least 20 times, beaten the child and threatened to kill both of them.

He also faces charges of possessing an airgun, while banned from doing so, after police allegedly recovered pictures of the mother and daughter with pellet holes in them.

Heavily tattooed Masserick, 26, formerly of the west end but currently of no fixed abode, faces a total of eight charges. They are four of assault, one of causing unnecessary suffering to a child, one of harassment and two of possessing an airgun while prohibited from doing so for five years.

No pleas were entered and he will appear before JPs again next week on a video link from prison.